Christopher Szagola/US Presswire Randy Cunneyworth made his debut tonight as Canadiens head coach.

MONTREAL — The Devils faced the Montreal Canadiens, who fired head coach Jacques Martin early today and replaced him with interim coach Randy Cunneyworth.

Martin Brodeur was in goal for the Devils against Carey Price.

Matt Taormina was back in the New Jersey lineup in place of Alex Urbom. Henrik Tallinder (backs spasms) did not make the trip. Center Tim Sestito was a scratch.

THIRD PERIOD

Elias became the Devils' all-time goal-scoring leader when he scored his 348th goal at 1:31. Campoli lost the puck to Sykora as he tried to skate it out of his own end. Sykora fed Elias, who sent it right back and waited for his linemate to set up the record-breaking goal at the right edge of the crease.

Elias reached the 348-goal mark in 59 more games than MacLean, who did it in 934.

Zubrus scored a power play goal from the left circle at 10:18 to give the Devils a 5-3 lead.

SECOND PERIOD

Larsson was on the Devils' bench after the first intermission, so his head seems to be OK.

Nokelainen carried the puck into the offensive zone for a chance, but Fayne pulled Emelin down into the net for a penalty at the 59-second mark.

When Volchenkov cross-checked Andrei Kostitsyn at 1:34, the Canadiens had a two-man power play advantage for 1:25.

Montreal tied the score, 1-1, when Subban drilled a one-timer from above the left circle past Brodeur at 2:21. It came with the Canadiens on a 5-against-3 power play.

Elias scored the 347th goal of his career, tying John MacLean for the Devils' all-time lead, at 5:05. Cole was in the penalty box with his third minor of the game when Kovalchuk fed Elias at the bottom of the right circle and the veteran forward put it behind Price.

Foster had the secondary assist on the goal. It was his first point for the Devils.

The lead lasted just over a minute as Chris Campoli fired a slap shot from the top of the right circle past Brodeur's glove side at 6:33.

A rising slap shot from Lars Eller from the slot at 8:57 wound up under the crossbar as the Canadiens took a 3-2 lead.

Clarkson was called for roughing Cole at 10:17.

The Devils were shorthanded when Parise played a carom off the left wing boards and led a 2-on-1 rush with Kovalchuk on his right. Campoli was back for the Habs and Price made the save on Parise's shot at 12:15.

Larsson's long pass from his own end sent Clarkson in for a scoring chance from the right circle. Campoli went down, possibly screening Price, as Clarkson scored his 11th goal of the season at 18:26 to even the score, 3-3.

Devils are outshooting the Canadiens, 25-17.

End of period: Devils 3, Canadiens 3

FIRST PERIOD

The Devils started Zach Parise, Adam Henrique and Ilya Kovalchuk with Bryce Salvador and Kurtis Foster on defense.

Although the Devils failed to score on a power play following a tripping penalty by Alexei Emelin, they struck soon after it expired.

Sykora fired a shot with Henrique battling Subban in front. The puck deflected past Price, who lost his stick as he lunged towards the left post at 7:05.

David Desharnais centered the puck for Erik Cole with 9:00 left. Looking at an open right side of the net, Cole was unable to get his stick on it.

Price made a save on Parise at 13:29.

The Devils almost allowed their 10th short-handed goal of the season when Petteri Nokelainen had a breakaway with 2:45 left. Brodeur came through with a big save.

Larsson was hurt with 1:07 remaining when he was hit in the head by Cole on a play behind the New Jersey net along the end boards. Cole delivered an illegal hit to the rookie's head with the upper part of his right arm. Larsson stayed down for a few moments and then skated off on his own to the bench.

Cole received a two-minute minor. The only other option is a game misconduct. This hit is probably not worthy of a suspension.